This NICU nurse has been looking after babies in critical condition for years. Her work has stuck with parents long after their babies were released from intensive care.

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Kleenex Brand / YouTube

NICU nurse receives a surprise from families she's helped in the past (video)

By Kevin Heffernan

January 22, 2016

Selling lots of tissues should be no problem for Kleenex following the success of a viral marketing ad (video below) featuring a special nurse.

Nurse Renee Hendrix works at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Ga. For years, she's been assigned to the hospital's NICU, where she takes care of newborn babies in critical condition. Most of these babies have been separated from their mothers because of serious medical conditions, and so they need to be monitored closely.

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The nurse understands how difficult this initial separation can be for new parents. As a result she takes her work very seriously. "I feel like if I treat the babies like I would want somebody to treat my baby when I'm not there, that's the most important thing," she says. Nurse Renee's compassion and commitment have impressed many parents so much that they jumped on a chance to show their gratitude.

Producers from Kleenex gave them that opportunity when the company decided to make a video called, "Tiny Miracles." First, they contacted and interviewed many of her old patients, who recalled before cameras how the nurse had cared for their children. Then they cut together a video from those interviews, asking everyone in it to show up at the hospital on a given day.

On that day, Nurse Renee was working her usual shift when one of her co-workers asked her to sit down and watch a video. As she did, all of her patients entered the room, flash-mob style, and surprised her. As you might imagine, the nurse was shocked at first. But once the reality of the situation sank in she was overwhelmed with emotion.

Well done, Kleenex. Unless you're a robot, you'll probably have the same reaction as Nurse Renee when you watch the below video.